Peripheral cannulation

Researchers from Aberdeen’s Robert Gordon University presented a study at the British Pharmaceutical Conference in Manchester in which they suggested that a third of patients are cannulated unnecessarily.

350 patients entered the study – who were all treated in the acute medical assessment unit of Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, 91% of patients had a short peripheral catheter inserted. But 28% of the cannulae were never used. The researchers also found that in 71% of patient records there was no documentation of a cannula being inserted, while in 57% there was no documentation of it being removed.

The researchers, led by Dr Yash Kumarasamy, said that in many UK hospitals, it has become common practice to insert an intravenous cannula when the patient is admitted, irrespective of need. He said: “We would like to see the introduction of a formal procedure under which hospital pharmacists review patients and their medications and make recommendations to the treatment team about whether or not a cannula is needed.”

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Researchers from Aberdeen’s Robert Gordon University presented a study at the British PharmaceuticalÂ Conference in Manchester in which they suggested that a third of patients are cannulated unnecessarily.

350 patients entered the study – who were all treated in the acute medical assessment unit of Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, 91% of patients had a short peripheral catheter inserted. But 28% of the cannulae were never used. The researchers also found that in 71% of patient records there was no documentation of a cannula being inserted, while in 57% there was no documentation of it being removed.

The researchers, led by Dr Yash Kumarasamy, said that in many UK hospitals, it has become common practice to insert an intravenous cannula when the patient is admitted, irrespective of need.Â He said: “We would like to see the introduction of a formal procedure under which hospital pharmacists review patients and their medications and make recommendations to the treatment team about whether or not a cannula is needed.”